Painting of the Nine Immortals
chapter-270

"Ling Xian… I… I accept."

Yan Ning Zhi lowered her head. Her cheeks were red, and her voice was as quiet as a mosquito – almost inaudible.

It was apparent how shy and embarrassed she felt.

After she spoke those simple words, she felt weak and almost collapsed onto the ground.

"Huh…"

Seeing Yan Ning Zhi’s flushed cheeks and shaky hands, Ling Xian realized the unusualness in her behavior. However, due to Feng Qing Ming’s demand, he took over the jade plate anyway with a smile. "Thank you."

"Ling Xian, you are being too polite. I am doing all this willingly."

Seeing Ling Xian take over the jade, Yan Ning Zhi was overjoyed. She lowered her head even more as if she had no courage to face anyone anymore.

This jade plate has been worn by her ever since she was born. She has almost never taken it off and thus, it was very meaningful to her.

If she simply wanted to solve the problems she had with arrays, there was no way she would’ve given the jade to Ling Xian. But for some reason, when Ling Xian asked for it, she felt a rush of excitement and happiness.

That rush helped her make a decision.

Even though her decision was mostly irrational and made her feel embarrassed, she knew that she had no regrets.

That was enough.

"No matter what, thank you." Ling Xian grinned and stored the jade inside the Painting of the Nine Immortals. He then asked, "Now you can ask me whatever it was you wanted to ask."

Yan Ning Zhi nodded and calmed herself. She began to state the troubles she’s been having with arrays.

After a while, Ling Xian nodded, indicating that he has understood.

Basically, she wants to cast a giant array that utilizes both the Iron of Punishment and the Lock of Devil. If she can incorporate both materials, then she would be able to make an array that was both offensive and defensive.

However, these two rare materials cannot merge. This means if she chooses to use the offensive properties of the Iron of Punishment, then she loses the Lock of Devil’s abilities.

Nature states that these two godly materials cannot co-exist.

Centuries and centuries ago, many array masters wanted to solve this problem, but they all ended up giving up. Because it was basically impossible.

The two materials do not tolerate each other, and they do not allow a third material to merge with them neither. However, as time went on, an array master found a replacement material for the Iron of Punishment.

Even though the offensive properties are not as strong as the Iron of Punishment, it was better than nothing.

Therefore, array masters have given up on their original quest and decided to use the replacement material instead.

That question became a problem that could not be solved in the ancient array community!

"I see." Ling Xian nodded.

"Yes, do you have a solution?" Yan Ning Zhi’s face remained pink as she stared at Ling Xian.

"Let me think." Ling Xian bluffed, as he asked in his mind, [Immortal, do you have a way?]

After a moment, Feng Qing Ming still did not speak. It was as if he was asleep.

[Hmm?]

Ling Xian frowned and called out to him two more times. Still, no answers.

This made him both laugh and cry, thinking that that old man was toying with him. If he can’t answer the question, then he would lose all his face.

Sadly, Feng Qing Ming still did not speak.

[I am dead.] Ling Xian sighed as he felt the hopeful gaze from Yan Ning Zhi. He forced a smile, "Um, have you thought of using a replacement material?"

"There is a material that could be used to replace the Iron of Punishment. However, the array I want to make asks specifically for both the Iron of Punishment and the Lock of Devil. It is a recipe from the ruins that said no other materials are allowed, or else the array would turn out weak."

Yan Ning Yan shook her head. As someone practicing arrays for a long time, how could she not know what a big problem this was? She simply did not give up. On top of that, she thought of Ling Xian as an array grandmaster, and thus she chose to place some hope on him.

"I see. Don’t fret. Let me think carefully." Ling Xian was anxious despite his calm face, it was as if he really could solve this problem.

Yan Ning Zhi’s face reddened yet again as she muttered, "Okay, I trust you."

Trust?

Ling Xian was speechless, thinking that she sure trusted the wrong person. As someone new to ancient arrays, how could he solve the problem? But since he found himself in this situation, he had no room to decline.

If he didn’t accept the jade plate, then it would be easy to get out of this. The most that he'll suffer would be his pride, but that wasn’t a big deal. The problem was that he accepted the jade plate already. If he cannot answer, then the consequences would be greater than just losing face.

Luckily, just as Ling Xian was turning into an ant on a hot pan, Feng Qing Ming’s voice rose. This time, there was no trace of laughter in his tone, but rather, it was full of sorrow.

[Ling Xian, tell her, all she needs to do is to add a warm jade.]

Ling Xian was ecstatic. He didn’t think much and straight away passed this information to Yan Ning Zhi.

A warm jade?

Yan Ning Zhi’s expression was strange. If it weren’t for the fact that she thought of Ling Xian as a grandmaster and that she liked him, she would’ve slapped him right there and then.

Why?

Because a warm jade was the most basic and the most common material used in arrays. But the Iron of Punishment and the Lock of Devil were godly materials!

One was so common, the others so rare, how could the former aid the unification of the latter?

Another way to put it is to say that a sheep befriended two lions.

What a joke!

"Ling Xian, are you sure? Warm jade? That is a fundamental and common material. There is no way it would be useful." Yan Ning Zhi hesitated. To save Ling Xian’s face, she rejected his idea in a nice way.

Hearing this, Ling Xian smiled, fully aware that Yan Ning Zhi was saving his own face. He knew how awkward that solution appeared. Despite that, he believed in Feng Qing Ming.

He was the Pioneer of Ancient Arrays!

With arrays, he, without a doubt, dominates. How could he be wrong?

"Don’t worry, I wouldn’t lie to you." Ling Xian hid a smile, "How about this. You go back and try it out. If it doesn’t work out, you can find me again, and I will apologize to you."

"I…"

Yan Ning Zhi hesitated. Perhaps it was due to her own curiosity, or perhaps she was infected with Ling Xian’s confidence, she gritted her teeth, "Okay, I will give it a shot."

"Go on." Ling Xian grinned. Though he knew Yan Ning Zhi did not fully believe him, he didn’t want to explain further. After she attempts it, all will make sense.

Seeing Ling Xian’s composed ways, Yan Ning Zhi’s confidence grew. She nodded and left.

Watching her back, Ling Xian sighed. "I sure hope the Immortal was right. Or I would be so embarrassed."

As he thought about it, he remembered the unusual behavior of Feng Qing Ming and his sorrowful tone.

Curiosity got the best of him. Ling Xian entered the Painting of the Nine Immortals to seek answers from Feng Qing Ming.